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CHAPTER THIRTEEN
Ashlyn
“Do you think your sister or her friend saw anything?”
Liam sat in the driver's seat, the picture of a relaxed weekend boyfriend. I, on the other hand, had a huge rip in my pants and was sweating bullets at the prospect of Samantha Macklen launching our relationship, however fake, into the world without the control I had hoped for.
What a day.
“No, I doubt it. She’s got plenty of stuff going on her own plate. And Sam is pretty private, all things considered. Especially since you volunteered to come next weekend.”
“Wait. You really want me to come? I thought that was just to get her gone.”
“No, I really like the idea actually.” Liam sent a smoldering look my way. “Half the board and plenty of shareholders will be in attendance. It’ll be the perfect introduction to us as a couple and the fresh, new me. Unless you had something else planned?”
I hadn’t, but I wasn’t going to tell him that. “It moves our timeline back a little, but we can manage it.” I shifted on the seat, flushing at the feel of my skin dragging along his leather seat.
“How are you doing over there?” he asked. The words may have been polite, but I heard the laughter underneath. I sent him my fiercest glare.
“Fine, thank you.”
We pulled up to my apartment. “How come I’m always doing a variation of the walk of shame around you?”
He grinned, making my belly twist in the most delightful way. “One of my many, many talents.”
“Hmm, I’m sure.” I glanced out the window at my walk up to my unit. I could sprint from his truck to the stairs easy. Then it was a straight shot into my building. “Can you come over one night this week? We can set up your final calendar for the next round of events.”
He nodded, fingers tight on the wheel. “No problem. Just text me a time.”
I gave him a smile then looked out of the truck’s window. It wasn’t that far of a walk, and the sidewalk was deserted right now. Unless I wanted to flash half of the neighborhood my butt cheeks, I needed to go now. I gripped the door handle, gathering my wits.
“You have a plan?” he asked plainly, joining me in my stare.
“Yeah, I got it.” I reached to open the door when his hand covered mine.
“I have a better idea. Here, take this.” Reaching behind himself, he tugged hard, his whole shirt coming off in one jaw-dropping swish of fabric. Underneath he was all smooth, tanned flesh, a dusting of dark curls. His bicep flexed and expanded as he held it out to me.
I took the shirt, raising a brow at him. “You know you have your spare clothes in the back seat right?”
Now it was his turn to glare but with a distinctive flush to his tanned cheeks. “Do you want it or not?”
Wordlessly, I opened the door, quickly tucking his shirt around my waist. It covered my butt completely.
“Thank you,” I said, tightening the sleeves around my waist.
“It looks better on you.”
“You look better with it off,” I blurted out before good sense slowed my tongue. “Oh God, forget I said that.”
He wouldn’t though, and the smile that he sent me made my knees quiver.
“Goodbye, Liam. Don’t do anything stupid before I see you next.”
“I’ll try not to.” His voice was like warm honey. I needed to go.
Now.
I threw a wave over my shoulder as I power-walked across the sidewalk. The faster I got into my apartment and buried myself in work, the faster I would forget about those smiles, his touch on my skin.
